Manchester City and Arsenal played out a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, handing Liverpool an advantage in the Premier League title race.
The highly anticipated match, seen as crucial in the title race involving three top contenders, lacked excitement in the first half. Both teams seemed cautious, engaging in a tactical battle between their managers, Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.
Gabriel Jesus had a chance for City against his former club but missed the target, while Nathan Aké’s header from a corner was comfortably saved by David Raya before he had to leave the field due to injury.
City dominated possession but struggled to convert it into clear-cut chances. Mateo Kovacic came close with a curling effort, and Arsenal started to find their rhythm, with Bukayo Saka delivering a dangerous cross that narrowly missed Jesus.
The pace picked up in the second half, with Kevin De Bruyne’s corner nearly catching Raya off guard. Substitute Jérémy Doku had a couple of opportunities for City, but Erling Haaland missed a crucial chance from a corner flick-on.
Despite the game gaining intensity, there were few shots on target from both sides. The match ended without a goal, extending City’s unbeaten run to 23 matches and halting Arsenal’s eight-game winning streak in the league. Arsenal dropped to second place but considered the point valuable, especially since they prevented City from scoring at home for the first time since 2021.
Liverpool capitalized on this result by moving to the top of the table, two points clear of Arsenal, after their comeback victory against Brighton at Anfield. The draw between City and Arsenal worked in Liverpool’s favor, enhancing their lead in the title race.
